Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
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Clonal Identification and Molecular Characterization of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Clones
Get PDFCrocus sativus is a triploid sterile plant characterized by its long red stigmas, which produce and store significant quantities of carotenoid derivatives. Saffron is widely used mainly as herbal medicine or food coloring, and as a flavoring agent. It is cultivated only in few countries around the world. Saffron selections of Kashmir showed heterogeneity for stigma length which may be due to the genetic and environmental factors. Identification of high yielding selections using the existing gene pool of saffron shows promise and potential for improving the productivity of this crop. Thirty one morphologically distinct saffron selections/clones were characterized for identification of variation in stigma characteristics and apocarotenoid content. Molecular characterization was done through SSR, ISSR and RAPD markers and comparative gene expression between diverse selections was done through semi-quantitative and quantitative PCR analysis. In present study heterogeneity among 31 saffron selections was observed with respect to stigma length. Apocarotenoid content was estimated through soxhlet extraction and was correlated with stigma length of saffron selections. Significant variation in stigma length (2.86-4.84 cm) and non-heritable change in stigma number was observed across thirty one selected saffron clones. HPLC analysis also revealed significant variation in crocin (40-45mg/g), safranal (0.17-0.28 mg/g) and picrocrocin content (0.87-1.27 mg/gm) contents between the clones. Stigma size viz-a-viz quality evaluation confirmed that saffron of Kashmir is of intrinsically high quality with respect to colouring, aroma and taste. Variability in stigma characteristics observed in saffron selections under study can thus be utilized for saffron crop improvement
Effect of Co-Solvents on Bulk And Interfacial Characteristics of Room Temperature Ionic Liquids
Get PDFIonic liquids (ILs) are special class of molten salts constituted by large and
asymmetric organic cations and inorganic or organic anions, with melting
temperatures below 100oC. Due to the large size and the conformational flexibility of
constituent ions, ILs present low lattice enthalpies and large entropy changes upon
melting which favour the liquid state. ILs with melting point below ambient
temperatures are regarded as Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs). RTILs have
attracted increasing attention in recent years from both academia and industry
due to their interesting properties and potential applications. RTILs as a hybrid of
neutral and ionic entities, exhibit many unique physicochemical properties, such as
negligible volatility, nonflammability under ambient conditions, large liquidus range,
high thermal and chemical stability, wide electrochemical window, wide range of
densities and viscosities, high potential for recycling, high ionic conductivity, and
miscibility with a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds which
confer them their reputation as “green solvents” and make them a good alternative to
traditional organic solvents. In addition, the high polarity of the ILs
makes them to form very strong effective adsorption films and redy tribochemical
reactions, which contributes to their prominent antiwear capability. On account
of above mentioned specialities, RTILs have found wide applications in chemical
synthesis, catalysis, lubrication, thermal separation processes and electrochemistry
